Fashionista Friday: Susan Linney
This week’s fashionista is non-other than Susan Linney. In a business that often can take itself too seriously, Susan’s website, Crazy Ugly Beautiful Things is just as it sounds – a fabulous balance of gorgeous, funny and downright interesting. Just like Susan, herself. After serving as Head Researcher for Lucky Magazine, Susan is now stepping out on her own to take the beauty world by storm. In addition to curating Crazy Ugly Beautiful Things, Susan is also a beauty writer for Meets Obsession. Whether I need advice on how to rock a red lip or just a good laugh, I know exactly where to look these days.
If you had to go one day without your cell phone or your makeup bag, what would it be?
Makeup bag! Because I would just use my phone to GPS the nearest Sephora and fix myself up there. Done and done.
As a self professed online shopping feign, what are your favorite online stores?
Shopbop for sure, especially when they run their sales— up to 70% off sometimes and I’ve scored some major designer items for next to nothing. Revolve Clothing because I love their selection of jeans. Sephora, of course, but for beauty I also love Ulta,Drugstore.com, LAFCO New York, Soap and Paper Factory, Barney’s. For less expensive items, I LOVE Fred Flare. It’s such an awesome site with tons of great clothes, as well a fun, quirky accessories (like this Cheeseburger Wallet, for example). And everything is so reasonably priced. Same goes for Need Supply.
If you could dress any designer for a major event, what designer would you choose?
I don’t think I could style anyone designer better than they do themselves. But I guess I’d say Stella McCartney. If only just to chat with her. Also Mary-Kate and Ashley. I’m super impressed with these girls—they’ve really proven themselves with their fashion lines, and as former-child starts, I’m sure that wasn’t easy. I love The Row especially.
What are some of your beauty or fashion blogs?
Makeup Alley, Eyeshadow Government, Anna Dellorusso, Meets Obsession, Ageist Beauty, I Want To Be Her, Style Bubble, Fashion Squad, Platinum Blonde Life and of course, Style Phile
Thanks to Susan for this awesome interview. Be sure to follow Susan’s Tumblr, Crazy Ugly Beautiful Things and on Facebook as well as on Twitter @Susan_Linney.
By Christina Johns, Stylephile.net
Makeup bag! Because I would just use my phone to GPS the nearest Sephora and fix myself up there. Done and done.
As a self professed online shopping feign, what are your favorite online stores?
Shopbop for sure, especially when they run their sales— up to 70% off sometimes and I’ve scored some major designer items for next to nothing. Revolve Clothing because I love their selection of jeans. Sephora, of course, but for beauty I also love Ulta,Drugstore.com, LAFCO New York, Soap and Paper Factory, Barney’s. For less expensive items, I LOVE Fred Flare. It’s such an awesome site with tons of great clothes, as well a fun, quirky accessories (like this Cheeseburger Wallet, for example). And everything is so reasonably priced. Same goes for Need Supply.
If you could dress any designer for a major event, what designer would you choose?
I don’t think I could style anyone designer better than they do themselves. But I guess I’d say Stella McCartney. If only just to chat with her. Also Mary-Kate and Ashley. I’m super impressed with these girls—they’ve really proven themselves with their fashion lines, and as former-child starts, I’m sure that wasn’t easy. I love The Row especially.
What are some of your beauty or fashion blogs?
Makeup Alley, Eyeshadow Government, Anna Dellorusso, Meets Obsession, Ageist Beauty, I Want To Be Her, Style Bubble, Fashion Squad, Platinum Blonde Life and of course, Style Phile
Thanks to Susan for this awesome interview. Be sure to follow Susan’s Tumblr, Crazy Ugly Beautiful Things and on Facebook as well as on Twitter @Susan_Linney.
By Christina Johns, Stylephile.net
Lingerie is Fashion Too: An Interview with Fashion & Beauty Expert, Susan Linney
Today, I'm talking with Susan Linney, a NYC-based fashion and beauty expert, all about lingerie. If you're a fashionphile (like me!) you may remember Susan from her work at Lucky Magazine.Susan is a fellow lingerie addict, so I asked if she'd be willing share some of her fashion insider insights here on the blog. In this interview, we talk about the role of lingerie in the fashion industry, why the fashion industry uses thin models, and 3 things every woman needs in her lingerie wardrobe.
1) One of the core themes of The Lingerie Addict is "lingerie is fashion too." Do you believe lingerie has a place in the mainstream fashion industry? If so, does the fashion world pay enough attention to it? If not, why not?
Absolutely. I’m a firm believer that fashion is a form of art, and lingerie is no exception. Just look at those fantastic vintage pin-ups from the 1930s and 40s. They celebrate lingerie in all its lush, lavish, stylish and sexy glory. This Vargas print is on my wall at home and I just love it—the sultry stockings, the subtle lace, the gold heels. It’s sensual but totally classy.
I think the magic of lingerie has been lost over the years. Those prints are a perfect example—they celebrated the look, the material, the craftsmanship of the pieces—not just the tits and ass. It was about the beauty of the body but ALSO about the beauty of the garments. You don’t really see that any more in the mainstream, at least in my opinion. It’s all overly sexed, shock-value advertisements.
So perhaps the fashion industry does ignore lingerie to a certain extent because they’re not looking at the truly well made, well branded lines.
2) How do you feel about the underwear as outerwear trend? Classy or trashy?
I am a super old-school-circa-1983 Madonna fan, so I think underwear as outwear can be done. But only by a select few. And also in select situations. I sometimes like to let my favorite bright pink bra peek out from a white tee, but only while I’m on vacation, or at a casual roof party, or doing something laid back. The situation needs to be thoroughly scouted first.
3) What do you think of the new interest in vintage, pin-up, and burlesque-inspired lingerie? Here to stay or gone tomorrow?
Hee---clearly, I love it! I always have and I’m glad there is renewed interest. It’s certainly not a flash-in-the-pan trend for me. I hope it sticks around.
4) I consider The Lingerie Addict to be a body-positive blog, and I try to promote the belief that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. What do you think the fashion industry could or should do (if anything) to address some of the body standards it implicitly and explicitly endorses?
That’s a tough one. Having worked in the magazine industry for years I know the quandary. All of the models are super, unrealistically thin, and it is outrageous. That said, what some people don’t understand is that an editor can’t just snap his or her fingers and fill their pages with fuller figured women. For the most part, all samples sizes are created as a 2 or less, and until the market changes this, the models won’t change, either.
When I worked at Redbook we did what I thought was a really insightful feature on the topic. The story simply explained to the average consumer why fashion magazines continually feature the kinds of body types that they do. And the main culprit is sample size. It’s a really complex issue. But now, thanks to bloggers like yourself, and the awesome exposure that the internet has given to almost anyone who chooses to take advantage of it, I think we’re seeing more realistic portrayals of women, at least online.
But I DO think that way too many fashion magazines are still so embarrassingly behind on embracing cultural diversity and it’s such a shame. Because there’s no excuse for that. You can’t hide behind “sample size” when it comes to that one.
5) As a fashion expert, what are some cues women should look for when deciding if an expensive piece of lingerie is worth its price tag?
Fit, first and foremost. Which can be tricky to get right. Don’t be afraid to ask sales people for help and make sure you get properly measured. I didn’t until I was over 30 and I had no idea how off I was about the size of my own boobs! Some of my favorite bras cost less than $50, and that’s because I made sure they properly fit. :)
6) Could you share a few of your favorite lingerie brands?
Le Perla, Calvin Klein, Le Mystere, Barely There
7) What 3 things does every woman need in her lingerie wardrobe?
- A cute camisole with support. I love these to death, especially in the hot summer months when I’d rather not wear a bra.
- A slip. These days, when we can so easily snap up on-trend clothing for next-to-nothing (I admit, I shop at Forever 21, frequently,) quality has been compromised. Which means dresses are not always well-lined, and often way to sheer for anyone’s liking. Slips are necessary protection! Also, I love to lounge around in them, especially soft, silky ones. And my husband digs the retro, Marilyn Monroe-eque look on me.
- This is kind of a two in one for me: A good tee shirt bra and a thong (or if you’re not into thongs, seamless panties). Barely There is my go-to shop for preventing ugly panty lines and bra bulges.
8) I first found you through Lucky Magazine, but I know you've since moved on to other projects. Can you share some details of what's next for you with my readers?
Sure! In addition to running my quirky little website, Crazyuglybeautiful.com, I’m also a beauty writer for Meetsobession.com. I’m a product junkie so this gig has been a dream come true. It’s a great site, plus they just launched their first print issue, as well.
Thanks so much for your time, Susan! It was a pleasure to interview you for The Lingerie Addict.
